Evaluation of Post Emergence Herbicides on Weed Control, Performance and Profitability of Rice (Oryza Sativa) at Lafiagi, Kwara State of Nigeria
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Libyan Agriculture Research Center Journal International 3 (5): 236-240, 2012 ISSN 2219-4304 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.larcji.2012.3.5.1105 Evaluation of Post Emergence Herbicides on Weed Control, Performance and Profitability of Rice (Oryza sativa) at Lafiagi, Kwara State of Nigeria Ibrahim Usman College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria Abstract: Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 wet seasons at Lafiagi, Kwara state in the Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria to evaluate the effect of some post emergence herbicides on weed control, performance and profitability of rice. The treatments consisted of four post emergence herbicides (450g pretilachlor + 30g pyribenzoxim, 3600g propanil + 2000g 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 40g bisbyribac sodium and 1020g pretilachlor + 1980g propanil), two hoe weeding at 6 and 9 WAS and the unweeded plot. The application rates were based on the manufacturers’ recommendations. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Data on weed cover score, weed dry matter, crop injury, crop vigour, crop stand and grain yields were collected. Gross margin and cost benefit analysis were employed to determine the profitability of each of the control methods. From the results all the herbicides were similar in their effect on weed control and crop growth. The effect of herbicide treatments on rice yield were comparable to hoe weeding and significantly higher than unweeded treatments. The application of 40g/lha 1 of bisbyribac sodium and application of 450g pretilachlor + 30g pyribenzoxim as post emergence herbicides applied at 6 WAS gave the highest gross margin and Cost- benefit ratio over hand weeding respectively and are therefore considered as the best post emergence herbicides in rice among the evaluated herbicides in the study area. There is however the need for continuous evaluation of the herbicides in other to check herbicide resistant. Key words: Herbicides Rice production Weed control Profitability Cost- benefit INTRODUCTION domestic rice production through a number of strategies, parts of which is the establishment of rice processing Rice (Oryza sativa) is the staple food for more than factories in Kano, Kwara, Ogun and Benue State with a a half of the world population [1]. The global rice combined installed capacity of 730,000 mt per annum [3]. production is estimated at 454.6 million tonnes annually It is very important to take advantage of the substantial which has an average yield of 4.25 tonnes per hectare [2]. processing capacity available in the country by boosting In Nigeria Rice is cultivated virtually in the entire Northern paddy rice production. Efficient rice production will create Guinea Savannah agro ecological zone. Land under rice employment, increases incomes and reduce poverty. cultivation in Nigeria has increased from 1,609,890 ha in Successful weed control is essential for economic 2005/2006 to 2,012,740 ha in 2009/2010, while production rice production [4]. Weed can reduce rice yield by has also moved from 3,286,500kg ha 1 in 2005/2006 to competing for moisture, nutrients and light during the 4,080,940kg ha 1 in 2009/2010. Average Nigeria consumes growing season. Weed infestation can also interfere with about 24.8kg of rice per year. Rice importation in Nigeria combine operations at harvest and significantly increase has grown from less than 500,000 metric tonnes in 1994 harvesting and drying costs. Weed seeds contamination to 2.1 million metric tonnes in 2011. Between 2008 and of rice grain lower grain quality and may lower the cash 2011, Nigeria spent an average of US$ 2.5 Billion on rice value of the crop. Weed infestation is one the causes of importation. [3] This high level of rice importation may serious yield reduction in rice production worldwide. not be sustainable. Therefore, the Nigeria government at Losses caused by weeds vary from one country to the federal level is refocusing attention on stimulating another, depending on the predominant weed flora and on Corresponding Author: Ibrahim Usman, College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria. Tel: +2348034374967. 236 Libyan Agric. Res. Cen. J. Intl., 3 (5): 236-240, 2012 the control methods practiced by farmers. Weed Nigeria. Glyphosate was applied at the rate of 4 liters competition do not occur during the entire cropping per hectare (1.440 kg a.i). After which the plot was left for period. Control of weeds during the critical period of two weeks before the land was ploughed and then competition is important, usually it commence around 2 harrowed to obtain a fine tilth, it was then marked out into weeks after seeding and may continue up to 5-8 weeks. 18 plots with 1.0m spacing between blocks and 0.5.0m Hence early weeding is important to reduce yield losses spacing between plots. The gross and net plot sizes were [5]. Yield loss between 40-100% in upland rice has been was 16.0 m22 (4 x 4) m and 12.0 m (4 x 3) m respectively. reported [5-7]. Rice has been found to perform better Common weed species at the site were identified, under good weed management practices [4]. Weeds are classified and recorded. The treatments consisted of 4 one of the primary factors limiting rice yield in Nigeria. post emergence herbicides; hand weeding at 6 and 9 Hoe weeding is the commonest method adopted in WAS and unwedded check. The treatments were laid out controlling weeds in the study area. The practice is in a randomized complete block design replicated three however expensive, labour intensive and the availability times. Pre-emergence herbicides used was 320g/l of labour is often not reliable particularly at the peak of Oxadiargyl applied a day after planting with knapsack the season. Rice being a closely spaced crop, yield losses sprayer in a spray volume of about 200 liters per ha using could even be caused by hoe weeding through crop a deflector nozzle at a pressure of 2.1kg/m.2. At six weeks injury and stand losses, while some grass weeds which after planting different post emergent herbicides were have close resemblance to the rice crop may escape hand applied which were, 450g Pretilachlor + 30g pyribenzoxim weeding. This necessitates the evaluation of an per ha, 3600g Propanil + 2000g 2,4-D per ha. 40g alternative weed control method that may be more Bisbyribac sodium per ha and 1020g pretilachlor + 1980g effective with less labour requirements. Herbicides, propanil per ha. These rates are based on the when used at recommended rate, offers good weed manufacturer’s recommendations. Hoe weeding was done suppression and increased yield in rice production [8]. at 6 and 9 WAS. The variety used was NERICA –1 which The use of pre-emergence herbicides has been reported to is early maturing. The seed were drilled at the rate 80 kg show some promising results in rice.10 reported that /ha with inter row spacing of 25 cm. Fertilizer was applied application of pre-emergence herbicides produced grain at the rate of 300 kg ha 11 of NPK at 3WAS and 150kg ha- yield of rice that are significantly comparable to two hoe of urea at 6 WAS. Visual observation was used to assess weeding. Herbicides resistance and crop injury is a major the crop injury score using percentage as the scale Where problem in the use of post emergence herbicides, there is 1% = normal plant growth and 100% = leaf scorching and need to identify selective herbicides for rice so as to obvious stunted or dead plant. Weed weight sample was increase rice production and save foreign exchange spent taken from 0.75m2 quadrant. The sample was cleared free of on importation of rice. Major herbicides available for weed soil and weight fresh and oven dried at 70°c to constant control in rice in Nigeria include. propanil, oxadizon, weight for dry matter determination Weed cover score butachlor, oxadiargyl, 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, was assessed visually and expressed in percentage where bisbyribac sodium, pretilachlor+ pyribenzoxim, propanil + 0% represent no weed cover and 100 % represent 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and pretilachlor + complete weed cover. Data collected were subjected to propanil, [3], but their use by farmers has been limited analysis of variance, where significant differences existed, because of lack of information on crop injury, efficacy and the Duncan multiple range test was use for mean cost benefit analysis of the herbicides. Therefore the separation. focus of this study is to look at the efficacy and To examine the profitability of the different profitability of each of the herbicides available for rice herbicides, the gross margin analysis and cost benefit farmers and compare it with the farmer’s practice of two analysis was done. The gross margin analysis is the hoe weeding in the study area. difference between the total revenue and the total variable cost i.e. GM= TR-TVC Where GM= Gross margin; TR= MATERIALS AND METHODS Total revenue and TVC= Total variable cost The profitability index, also known as cost- benefits Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 analysis which measures the rate of return on investment wet seasons at Demonstration Plot of Kwara State was calculated. It gives the amount of profit on any Naira Agricultural Development projects located in Lafiagi invested in each of the herbicides It is expressed as Cost- Kwara state, (latitude 7° 4511 and longitude 2°30 ). Located benefit ratio = GM/ VC where GM= Gross margin Where in the Northern Guinea Savannah of V.C. = variable cost of each of the weed control methods 237 Libyan Agric. Res. Cen. J. Intl., 3 (5): 236-240, 2012 The cost of the inputs and price of the products were treatments including the control did not have any obtained from market survey.